Not a lot of words being minced at a town hall meeting on the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
There were over 100 people who packed a conference room at the Days Inn hotel in Owen Sound last night.
The town hall meeting was organized by the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union in an attempt to raise concerns on the business of the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
The meeting was chaired by Ted Loughead — a staff representative with OPSEU.
Also at the head table were Vicki McKenna — 1st Vice-President of the Ontario Nurses Association, Rick Janson — OPSEU’s Campaign Officer, and David Trumble — President of the Grey Bruce Labour Council.
The meeting comes on the heels of the health unit laying off staff including Program Assistants and clerical staff, much of it happening soon after a strike by public health nurses last year.
The union feels the layoffs were a direct result of the construction of the new 17 million dollar Health Unit building in Owen Sound.
Loughead says the facts speak for themselves.
He says the building cost an awful lot of money to construct and at the same time front line are being laid off.
There were other issues raised including the effects of the cuts on low income families, the increase in the number of management at the Health Unit versus the number of staff, and accusations towards management of nepotism.
Loughead says the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health, Doctor Hazel Lynn.
He says Doctor Lynn is suppose to answer to the Board but instead is the Board is being run by Doctor Lynn.
Those in attendance were being encouraged to write to their M-P-Ps and even local councillors on the cuts and layoffs and to demand the Ontario Liberal Government conduct an investigation of the Health Unit.
Loughead says if they are able to get an investigation, he expects to get more information on how the Health Unit is being operated.
He says that might lead to a change in how the Health Unit operates and those who manage it.
No one from the Board of Health or Doctor Lynn were at the meeting.
OPSEU President Warren “Smokey” Thomas who started this town hall meeting was also not in attendance due to health reasons.